[Protest of SBA Failure To Issue COC Under Army Solicitation for X-Ray Equipment Services]

A firm protested the Small Business Administration's (SBA) failure to issue it a certificate of competency under an Army solicitation for X-ray equipment services, contending that SBA improperly: (1) relied on unfounded Army allegations of its deficient performance on a previous contract; and (2) refused to reconsider, even though it furnished information vital to the issue of its responsibility. GAO held that SBA reasonably determined that the protester was nonresponsible, since: (1) the record showed the protester's inadequate performance on a prior contract; (2) although the Army did not initiate contract termination proceedings on the previous contract, it reasonably reached and accurately communicated its finding of inadequate performance to SBA; (3) the protester failed to furnish SBA with requested information to prove its responsibility; (4) SBA gave the protester an adequate opportunity to address its responsibility; and (5) the protester furnished no information bearing on the issue of its inadequate prior performance. Accordingly, the protest was denied.